The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide
Teaching is a noble profession that shapes the future of our society. However, higher education costs can deter many from pursuing a career in education. The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship aims to remove financial barriers and support the next generation of educators.
Background and Purpose
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship was established in 2013 through a generous endowment to Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. It was created to address the teacher shortage crisis facing many US states and support the development of high-quality educators.
The scholarship’s namesake, Mary Lou Fulton, was a passionate advocate for education. She believed every child deserves excellent teachers and that high-caliber students should enter the profession regardless of their financial means. The scholarship honors her legacy and ensures her vision becomes reality.
Addressing the Teacher Shortage
There is a widespread teacher shortage across multiple subject areas in the US. Some studies estimate that over 300,000 additional teachers may be needed by 2025 to meet the rising demand. This shortage is due to several factors, including non-competitive salaries, significant out-of-pocket costs of education degrees, and high rates of teacher attrition.
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship directly tackles this crisis by providing generous financial support to recruit and retain strong graduates in the teaching field. Scholars commit to teaching for four years in Arizona public schools following graduation to give back and help address local staffing needs.
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Eligibility and Application Process
The scholarship is open to any US citizen or eligible non-citizen who is a rising high school junior or senior interested in pursuing an education degree. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to teaching through community service, leadership, or relevant work experience.
Key Eligibility Requirements:
- US citizenship or eligible non-citizen status
- 3.5 minimum high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- 1200 minimum SAT or 26 ACT score
- Commitment to teaching as demonstrated in essays and recommendations
- Plan to attend Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
The application is available online and requires basic personal information, academic transcripts, test scores, short essays, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievement, leadership potential, and passion for teaching.
Selection and Notification
A selection committee reviews all qualified applications and selects finalists for interviews. Interviews are typically conducted in person in the spring and allow candidates to elaborate on their experiences and motivation for teaching. Scholarship recipients are notified by early summer before their first fall enrollment at ASU.
Benefits and Requirements
as a Scholar
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship is one of the most generous education scholarships in the nation. Key benefits include:
- Full tuition coverage for undergraduate studies (up to 8 semesters)
- Yearly stipend of $3,300 for books and expenses
- Access to scholar-specific academic and career advising
- Invitations to mentorship and networking events
- Opportunity for international teaching experience
- Alumni engagement and networking opportunities
In return, scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA, remain actively enrolled full-time, participate in scholar activities, and commit to teaching for four years after graduation in an Arizona public school. This helps ensure scholars give back by addressing local workforce shortages.
Maintaining Eligibility
To remain eligible, scholars must submit annual progress reports and receive satisfactory academic performance reviews from their college advisor each year. They must also demonstrate good standing with the university and avoid any misconduct violations.
The scholarship will be revoked if a scholar fails to meet the continuing eligibility criteria, such as falling below a 3.0 GPA, dropping out of the teaching program, or failing to secure a teaching position within nine months of graduation. In such cases, scholars may owe reimbursement of tuition and stipends received.
Graduation and Career Support
In their final year, Mary Lou Fulton scholars work closely with a college career advisor to prepare for the job search process. They receive coaching on resumes and cover letters, interview skills, and negotiating job offers. Scholars also network with school district representatives at annual educator hiring events.
Upon graduating, scholars have nine months to secure a full-time teaching job in an Arizona public school. The career services office actively assists with job placement and provides credentialing support when needed. For the required four years of teaching, scholars submit annual reports on their classroom experiences and employment verification.
International Teaching Option
A unique aspect of the scholarship is the opportunity for an overseas student teaching experience. Through partnerships with schools abroad, select high-achieving scholars can spend a semester student teaching in places like Rome, London, or Shanghai during their senior year.
This allows for invaluable cultural learning opportunities while still completing degree requirements. International scholars deepen their teaching skills in a new setting and gain a global perspective that benefits future students back home in Arizona.
Benefits for Arizona Schools
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers Scholarship helps address teacher shortages across Arizona by recruiting and retaining top students into the local education workforce. Scholars bring fresh talent, knowledge, and skills into classrooms statewide.
By committing to teach for 4 years after college, scholars directly alleviate staffing needs in subjects like STEM, special education, and dual language programs. This stable pipeline of new educators enhances student success and learning environments over the long term.
It also reduces district recruiting and hiring expenses that are incurred every time a position turns over. The scholarship model ensures a return on Arizona’s investment by having scholars give back their talents in local communities for multiple years.
FAQs about the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers Scholarship
1. What grade levels can I teach with this scholarship?
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers Scholarship prepares educators for a variety of K-12 grade levels and subject areas. Degree programs include elementary, secondary, and special education. Common subjects are math, science, English, history/social studies, world languages, and more.
2. Do I have to teach in Arizona for the entire four years?
Yes, to fulfill the scholarship service commitment, scholars must teach full-time for four complete years in an Arizona public school district, charter school, or state agency. Teaching partial years or outside of Arizona does not satisfy the agreement.
3. What happens if I don’t get a teaching job after graduating?
Scholars have 9 months after graduating to secure a qualifying teaching position. If unable to find employment, they may need to reimburse the scholarship costs and stipends received during college on a pro-rated basis. The career services office works closely with all scholars to help avoid this situation.
4. Can I defer entering college to take a gap year first?
Deferring enrollment is typically not allowed with this scholarship. Recipients must attend ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College as full-time students directly after high school graduation to receive scholarship benefits throughout their undergraduate degree program.
5. What if I change my mind about teaching after receiving the scholarship?
Scholars who no longer want to pursue a career in K-12 education after being awarded the scholarship may need to reimburse some or all of the costs covered. It is expected that recipients will remain committed to teaching for the duration of their college career and fulfill the 4-year post-graduation service agreement.
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Conclusion
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Scholarship plays a critical role in developing Arizona’s future educators and classroom leaders. By removing financial barriers and incentivizing high-caliber students, it directly addresses widespread teacher shortages across the state.
Recipient scholars have the opportunity to receive an excellent education from ASU’s highly-ranked teaching program, plus benefits like alumni networking, international experiences, and career prep resources. In return, they commit to giving back by addressing local staffing needs and playing their part in improving Arizona’s education system.
